The chestnut tree can, but does not have to be pruned. However, if you want to carry out this care measure, you have to pay attention to a few things, otherwise the chestnut could be attacked by a fungus.
Chestnuts (Castanea) are for many a beautiful memory of their own childhood. And those who have children today are happy to pass on this memory. Then, in autumn, the fallen red fruits of the classic horse chestnut, as we find them in abundance in Germany, are collected and then tinkered at home. And indeed, a lot of beautiful and interesting figures can be created with these chestnuts. Chestnut necklaces, decorative items and much more are created if you let nimble children's hands tinker with them. A happy glow in the children's eyes included. But chestnuts are not only good for handicrafts. Owners of a large garden also love chestnut trees because of the expansive shade they provide in the hot season.
However, it is important to note that chestnuts grow impressively. Depending on which variety you choose, your chestnut can eventually reach a height of around 35 meters. Even the smaller varieties grow at least 10 meters tall. In addition, there are correspondingly strong roots that spread in all directions in the soil, and a very broad treetop. In smaller gardens or even in a front yard, chestnut trees are simply out of place. You should also avoid direct proximity to buildings or garages when choosing a place for planting.
This is the chestnut - a short overview
The chestnut is a deciduous tree native to Asia, Europe and North America. There are two major types of chestnut - the horse chestnut and the sweet chestnut or edible chestnut. Both species have more than 100 subspecies, some of which can also be found in Germany. The growth height can be up to 35 meters. The biggest difference between the sweet chestnut and the horse chestnut lies in the fruit, apart from the leaves of the trees. While the sweet chestnut, also known as Marone, is a delicacy in some parts of Europe and can be enjoyed roasted, theHorse Chestnut is inedible and can cause nausea, dizziness and other symptoms of intoxication if eaten.
Pruning chestnuts - necessary or not?
It's like so often when you ask experts about a certain topic - you often get different opinions. The same applies to the question of whether you should prune chestnut trees or not. Some say that regular pruning is necessary so that the chestnut can grow quickly and with sufficient vigour. Others point out that the chestnut is always particularly vulnerable to pests and diseases, especially in areas where it is pruned. And indeed, both references have their justification. Cut edges, especially on the main trunk, can lead to an attack of various diseases - however, a regular, targeted and sensible cut leads to he althy growth, because the tree's strength is not wasted on weak and almost dead branches.
Beware of fungal infestation
However, one must also bear in mind that the horse chestnut in particular has great difficulty coping with the "wounds" of a cut. It takes a while for a protective film to form at open interfaces, protecting the tree from fungal attack or internal rot. However, this problem can be avoided by, for example, pruning in the right season. A chestnut should always be pruned between November and February, or at the beginning of March at the latest. The temperatures should not be above 4 degrees Celsius in the first time after the cut. This measure alone protects the tree from fungal attack on the cut areas, because at these temperatures fungi cannot spread accordingly.
Experts recommend a rather radical pruning, especially for young trees that only grow very slowly, in order to force the growth of the tree and to concentrate the strength of the still young tree. When a chestnut has survived the first few years, it is ultimately a matter of conviction whether you want your chestnut to grow as it would in nature or whether you prune it regularly.
Pruning - Things to note
If you have decided not just to let your chestnut tree grow, but to take into account the fact that the chestnut is now a cultivated plant and therefore needs a higher level of care than most wild plants, it is important still some points to consider. NextWhen the time of year is right for a cut, you should start making the necessary cuts regularly as early as possible. Because if you start pruning when you are young, the branches you cut will be significantly smaller in diameter than if you only make a first cut after 10 years or more. In this case, the branch diameters can already be significantly more than 5 cm - this means that the attack surfaces for a possible fungal attack are significantly larger and thus the risk of the tree becoming ill increases.
In addition, with chestnut trees that are pruned regularly from the beginning, only clearing cuts are necessary later - i.e. only the branches that disturb further growth have to be cut away. The larger the tree becomes, the lower the need for pruning, since the tree structure was already well developed and designed at a young age.
How to properly prune a chestnut tree
When pruning a chestnut tree, there are two different cuts. Once the cleaning cut and on the other hand the crown cut. Here is some more information about the two types of cuts:
❍ The Purge Cut
The cleaning cut is also part of the crown cut, but can and should also be carried out every two years independently of the crown cut. Most important is the maintenance and cleansing of the base of the trunk to keep it he althy and strong. During the cleaning cut, water veins and stick rashes are removed. Driven-through rashes from the substrate should also be removed as part of a clean-up cut. Branches that have been attacked by pests or diseases should also be removed as part of the clean-up cut back to the he althy wood.
❍ The Crown Cut
Crown pruning serves to stabilize young trees and revitalize older trees. Crown pruning is necessary with some regularity over the course of the first 20 years to ensure a strong and he althy skeletal growth of the tree. The crown cut includes the following work steps:
❶ Clean-up pruning
❷ Stabilization of the trunk axes - for this, severely overhanging trunk axes must be stabilized by shortening them, in some cases very severely
❸ Proceed in the same way with overhanging side branches
❹ Floating water veins left behind in the cleaning cut must be removed
❺ vertical shoots must be cut away
❻ less vital parts of the crown and side branches must be removedbe shortened so that they do not unnecessarily rob of strength and nutrients
❼ Dead and damaged branches are cut back to the he althy wood
Only a strong and he althy framework remains - all superfluous shoots, branches and crown parts of the tree are removed. Of course, such a cut leaves a multitude of wounds and cut surfaces on the tree. As mentioned, chestnut trees are rather sensitive when it comes to such wounds and cut edges. For this reason, it makes sense, especially after a crown cut, to coat the cut surfaces with grafting ointment or a wound closure agent for chestnut trees, such as this one.
The most important things at a glance
| Note | Note |
|---|---|
| Start early | The more regularly you make the necessary cuts when the tree is young, the smaller the wounds and the lower the need for pruning, even in older trees |
| Cut especially when growth is weak | In the case of young trees, a radical pruning of weak growth leads to a significant improvement in growth |
| Chestnuts are very sensitive to wounds | For this reason, chestnuts should only be cut between November and February - the outside temperature should not exceed 4 degrees Celsius and the cut surfaces should then be treated with an appropriate agent. |
| In case of disease, a cut is essential | Especially if your chestnut tree is affected by a disease, you should definitely remove the diseased and dead wood from the tree to prevent further infestation |
| Crown cut only necessary up to 20 years | A crown cut is usually only made during the first 20 years of a chestnut tree's life - after that a regular cleaning cut is sufficient (every two to three years) |
Even if chestnut trees are more sensitive than other tree species when it comes to cutting, you should not go without regular pruning with appropriate after-treatment of the cut points. Because if you make the cut correctly and then treat the tree wounds accordingly, there is only a very small risk that your chestnut tree could become ill or be attacked by pests because of the cut. However, proper and regular pruning will significantly improve the growth and development of your tree.